Florida…a state well know to have one of the nations largest populations of retirees. A presidential candidate debate is held for the republican candidates and none mention Social Security. Even the moderator steered clear of the subject.

Do you find that strange? Was there a gentleman’s agreement among the candidates to remain silent on the subject? Many believe so. If so, why?

One only has to look at the candidates and their published stances on Social Security to know the answer to the question of why. They don’t have a clue on how to fix the program in a manor where everyone benefits. They look at Social Security and want us to believe someone has to suffer.

One wants to dissolve it, one wants to privatize it and two want to reduce the benefits in an attempt to balance its cash flows and produce surpluses. And, none have ruled out means testing.

With such ideas, it’s no wonder they didn’t want to talk about it…they wanted to keep their skins when they left the state.

Dissolve it? Where do you draw the line? Who loses what the have already paid for and who keeps it? How do you pay the benefits to those who have already contributed if no new contributions are being made? Before there was a Social Security savings, investments and pension plans is all anyone had…and that didn’t work so well, it’s why Social Security was created.

Privatize? Do you really want to bet your entire future retirement on the financial markets and real-estate? Do that and when you’re 65 you’ll likely be saying…”Hi, welcome to Walmart.”

Proponents of privatization have obviously never looked at the statistics…the average Social Security income is greater than the average private or public pension income, greater than the average annuity income or the income derived from 401k, 403b, Keogh and IRA accounts. And virtually none of those plans provided the disability benefits, death benefits and survivor benefits that Social Security does.

Reducing benefits and/or raising taxes? I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again…if that was a solution we wouldn’t have a problem.

And, let’s not forget means testing…let’s penalize those who are successful by making them pay for something they will never receive. That’s a great way to motivate our children to save for their future.

Clearly Washington does not have an answer so let’s send them one…a plan that everyone benefits from and no one suffers under. Read Saving Social Security – A Commonsense Solution. Please write your congressional representatives and favorite candidates in support of the ideas found in this book and encourage all those you know to do the same.